City Planning Survey: Residents’ Views on Future Development
What would you like your city to look like? This is, in short, the question that the Municipal Administration is about to ask the over nine thousand heads of households registered in the registry office. The Municipality is indeed preparing a questionnaire through which it aims to understand residents’ opinions on the city’s development and many other aspects related to the future.
The main goal is to gather indications, suggestions, and desires from the population. The initiative is part of the action carried out by the new Urban Planning Councillor Orlando Farinelli (An) and the new Urban Planning Commission established by the City Council and recently appointed by the “Junta for the revision of the General Town Planning Scheme.” For at least six years, the revision of the outdated Town Planning Scheme, which needs proper updating, has been on the agenda.
History and current status of the Town Planning Scheme
The center-left Administration of Mayor Massimo Rocca had previously addressed the issue, entrusting the scientific part to experts from the Politecnico di Milano and the planning part to two Milanese technicians. The preparatory work, data collection, and situation analysis were presented in December ’97 at the Palazzo del Turismo.
This was followed by a second meeting where the intervention guidelines were outlined. The Administration, through the majority, provided clarifications and directions. However, the electoral campaign prevented the work from being completed. It was then handed over to the new center-right Administration installed in the Town Hall after the June ’98 vote.
Despite this, time passed without progress, marked only by declarations of intent to revise the PRG. Essentially, everything remained frozen, with the process proceeding either based on the old plan or through simplified variants that, under the new regional law, can be directly adopted by the Council.
Future prospects and ongoing initiatives
This seems to be the approach that will be followed over the next two years because it appears unlikely that the chapter “new PRG” will be closed before the elections in spring 2002. Yet, a plan indicating the development or conservation guidelines for the city is necessary. It is indispensable.
There are two new developments: the appointment of the new Councillor and the Urban Planning Commission, which has held two meetings. It was precisely from this commission that the proposal, accepted by the councillor, to conduct a survey among the population, specifically the heads of households, was made.
The questionnaire will be distributed as soon as possible. The questions concern the main aspects of the city, such as the type of development preferred, where to expand the housing area. The topics of pedestrianization and lake areas will also be addressed.
Anyone wishing to share an idea will be able to do so. It also seems obvious that the City Administration will need to provide precise guidelines so that the new Town Planning Scheme can be designed. The questionnaire will be circulated as soon as possible, probably using municipal journalism.